Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Bell and the Festival d'ete de Quebec: an historic partnership looks to the future!

Bell and the Festival d'ete de Quebec: an historic partnership looks to the future!

Bell building on 3 decades of support for the Festival with financial support, world leading network technology and multi-platform media content through 2025.

QUEBEC CITY, June 14, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell and the Festival d'ete de Quebec (FEQ) today announced an historic 10-year partnership agreement to ensure the ongoing success of one of Canada's and indeed the world's largest music festivals through 2025.

"The quality of the cultural programming and production, coupled with the welcoming attitude and infectious enthusiasm of Quebec City residents, make the Festival d'ete de Quebec a spectacular and inspiring event," said Martine Turcotte, Bell's Vice Chair, Quebec. "Bell is proud and delighted to extend our support of the FEQ as we look forward to celebrating the event's 50(th) anniversary next year and growing the Festival and Quebec's place on the world stage for many years to come."

"We are extremely thankful to Bell for recognizing our vision, our leadership and our organization's influence as a driver of cultural activity in Quebec with this partnership," said Louis Duchesne, Chairman of the FEQ Board of Directors. "Bell's commitment to us is an invaluable guarantee of stability, not only for the event, but also for the thousands of festival-goers, the tourist industry and the economic vitality of Quebec City."

"I welcome Bell's tremendous generosity in supporting an event that is the pride of the entire population. Cultural patronage is more and more crucial to expanding the financial resources available for the region to continue to grow and thrive," said Francois Blais, Minister Responsible for the Capitale-Nationale.

Official presenter of the Bell Stage, which brings international stars to the Plains of Abraham every year, Bell is also presenting the new Fibe Stage. In the central festival zone known as the Coeur du FEQ, the Fibe Stage will showcase rising stars of the Quebec music scene such as Charlotte Cardin and Safia Nolin.

"I thank Bell for this major investment, which demonstrates beyond doubt the importance of the Festival d'ete de Quebec in the cultural and tourism landscape of Quebec and Canada," said Regis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City. "Not only will this partnership ensure the sustainability of an event that is the pride of Quebec City for years to come, it also gives organizers the necessary means to make it a resounding success for the next ten years."

As the festival's official technology provider, Bell will help the FEQ develop and roll out its digital platforms such as the FEQ and Imperial Bell websites, while Bell Media will increase the Festival's national presence across its multimedia platforms.

Festival-goers can head to the Bell Pavilion in the Coeur du FEQ for interactive virtual reality activities, the very popular karaoke event and technology demonstrations. All festival-goers will have free access to Bell charging stations that can be found in various locations at event sites.

Bell Fibe TV subscribers will also benefit with unique productions available only on TV1. In 2016, the Coeur de pirate and Eric Lapointe concerts, along with many performances on the Fibe Stage, will air both live and on demand on TV1.

"Bell's support means the FEQ can pursue its mission of making culture more widely accessible by offering young emerging artists a fantastic performance venue as well as an array of promising broadcast platforms," added Daniel Gelinas, General Manager of the Festival.

Bell's continued support for Imperial Bell, one of the most popular cultural venue in Quebec City, will further enhance the cultural life of the city all year long and secure the future of this historic hall. Since the announcement of Bell's and the FEQ's involvement with this flagship Saint-Roch building, the concert hall has been sold out for performances by Patrick Watson, Bernard Adamus, Coeur de pirate and Radio Radio. Bell will continue to use the venue for its Nuits FEQ, a series of reasonably priced concerts by the hottest artists of the moment.

About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business customers with TV, Internet, wireless, home phone, small business and enterprise communications services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital and out of home media. Bell is wholly owned by Montreal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For further information, please visit Bell.ca.

The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes mental health in Canada with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns, like Bell Let's Talk Day, and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research, and workplace initiatives. For further information, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

About the Festival d'ete international de Quebec
300 shows, 10 venues and 11 days of music make the Festival d'ete de Quebec one of Canada's biggest music festivals.
Early July sees international stars and top new talent playing every style of music coming together for a special time in a special place historic Old Quebec! There's music for everyone: rock, folk, hip-hop, electro, French song, jazz, world music and much more!